Burlington man pleads to stealing television after being kicked out

Monday

Jan 28, 2013 at 12:01 AMJan 28, 2013 at 4:30 PM

By Michael D. Abernethy/Times-News

GRAHAM — A Burlington man pleaded guilty last week to stealing a TV from the residence he was kicked out of.

Derek Antonio Watson, 24, formerly of East Hanover Road, Graham, was asked to leave his cousin’s home on Border Street in Burlington on April 25. The next day, he told a friend to drive him to the home because he’d left things inside, said Alamance County Assistant District Attorney Paul Soderberg.

Eyewitnesses saw Watson kick in the back door and carry out a TV. He put the TV in the woods by the house. He went back to the road, flagged down David Anthony Golden, 25, of Tucker Street, Burlington, and rode away in Golden’s Oldsmobile.

When questioned about the incident, Watson said he was angry about being kicked out, defense attorney Rick Champion said.

Watson pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering. He called the incident a mistake and said he wanted to enroll in school and improve his life. Watson said he’d written letters of apology to his cousin.

The woman got her TV back. The state requested $100 in restitution for damage to the back door.

Superior Court Judge James E. Hardin Jr. issued a suspended six- to 17-month sentence and placed Watson on 24 months’ probation. Watson was ordered to pay $100 in restitution and not to have contact with his cousin without her prior permission.

The state dismissed felony charges against Golden after Watson took responsibility for the larceny and breaking and entering. Watson said Golden didn’t know about the break-in or theft.

Alamance County deputies charged Hill with assaulting a woman and fracturing her face in three places Aug. 24.

Hill was given a suspended 21- to 35-month sentence and placed on 60 months’ probation. Hardin ordered him not to assault or harass the victim, consume no alcohol and continue treatment. Hill was also ordered to complete 12 days’ house arrest.

â–ª Eric Jason Hogan, 39, of Hidden River Trail, Graham, entered an Alford guilty plea to larceny after break and enter. An Alford plea allows someone to enter into a plea agreement without admitting guilt.

Alamance County deputies charged Hogan with breaking into a residence and stealing a firearm and other items from inside between April 6 and June 6.

Hardin sentenced Hogan as a level five offender and issued a 15- to 27-month suspended sentence and placed Hogan on 36 months’ probation. Hogan was ordered to pay $1,825 in restitution.

â–ª The state dismissed charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle against Ryan Demaree White, 22, of Vandalia Road, Greensboro. Mebane police charged White with stealing a 2007 Honda CBR from Brian Whitley on July 19. In court documents, Alamance County Assistant District Attorney Sean Boone wrote that White had paid Whitley back for the vehicle and the state had elected not to proceed on criminal charges.

â–ª The state dismissed breaking and entering, larceny and larceny of a firearm charges against Garrett Johnson, 17, of Hickory Forest Road, Chapel Hill. Graham police charged Johnson with breaking into a home on Poplar Street in Graham March 2 and stealing the weapon and various items. In court documents, Alamance County Assistant District Attorney Craig Thompson wrote that Johnson Â“has an alibi, state has no physical evidence linking defendant to crime.Â”